California Law Enforcement Says “YES” to Proposition 35

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The anti-human trafficking ballot initiative has received 51 endorsements from prominent individuals and organizations in the law enforcement community

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California (PRWEB)September 11, 2012

Proposition 35 – Stop Human Trafficking in California is quickly gaining widespread support among the California law enforcement community. Since the YES on Prop 35 campaign launched, 51 law enforcement officials and organizations have endorsed the measure. Slated for the November 2012 ballot, Prop 35 is an initiative that will fight back against human trafficking and the sexual exploitation of women and children in the state.

Ron Cottingham, President of the Peace Officers Research Association of California (PORAC), explained why supporting Prop 35 has become such a strong point of agreement for those involved with law enforcement, saying, “Proposition 35 will be a monumental step forward for California in preventing sexual exploitation and protecting victims of human trafficking – which is why California Peace Officers strongly support this ballot initiative. As those on the front lines in the fight against human trafficking, we see the need to protect women and children on our street and on the internet by increasing penalties against human traffickers and online predators.”

In addition to the 63,000 members of PORAC, the California Police Chiefs Association (CPCA) also strongly backs Prop 35. Chief Dave Maggard, President of the CPCA, announced the endorsement, saying, “The California Police Chiefs Association is proud to support Prop 35, which will help us protect vulnerable women and children from human traffickers and online predators. Victims of these crimes rely on us as first responders in communities throughout our state. For these local law enforcement officers, Prop 35 is a critical step forward in the fight against human trafficking and for the protection of children online.”

In a recent statement, Alameda County DA Nancy O’Malley also explained why the initiative is so important for California, saying, “The grim reality is that human trafficking of vulnerable women and children is taking place in communities across California. I’ve worked for over a decade to combat this crime and I can say with firsthand experience that our state needs tougher penalties against human traffickers and services to help victims. Californians can fight back against these crimes by supporting Proposition 35.”

About Proposition 35 – Stop Human Trafficking in California:
In California, many vulnerable women and young girls are held against their will and forced to sell their bodies. The victims are often girls as young as 12 who are sexually exploited for the financial gain of human traffickers. They are afraid for their lives and abused – sexually, physically, and mentally.

Human trafficking is said to be one of the fastest growing criminal enterprises in the world – and it is taking place right here in our own backyard. Three cities in California – San Francisco, Los Angeles, and San Diego – are recognized by the FBI as high intensity child sex trafficking areas. In addition, a recent national study by Shared Hope International gave California an "F" grade for its weak laws dealing with child sex trafficking.

Proposition 35, a partnership of California Against Slavery and the Safer California Foundation, will protect children in California by:

Increasing prison terms for human traffickers.

Requiring convicted sex traffickers to register as sex offenders.

Requiring all registered sex offenders to disclose their internet accounts.

Requiring criminal fines from convicted human traffickers to pay for services to help victims.

Proposition 35 has also been endorsed by organizations representing over 90,000 rank and file California Peace Officers, advocates for the protection of children, including Marc Klaas and the KlaasKids Foundation, and victims who survived sexual exploitation when they were children. Prop 35 has strong bipartisan support and is endorsed by both major political parties in California.

About Proposition 35 – Stop Human Trafficking in California
Proposition 35 – Stop Human Trafficking in Californiais a joint partnership of California Against Slavery and the Safer California Foundation. Slated for the November 2012 ballot, Proposition 35 is a ballot initiative to fight back against human trafficking and the sexual exploitation of women and children. It increases penalties against human traffickersand online predators, requires convicted sex traffickers to register as sex offenders, requires all registered sex offenders to provide the authorities with information about their internet accounts, and uses the fines against convicted traffickers to pay for victim services. For more information, visit http://www.VoteYesOn35.com.

About California Against Slavery
California Against Slavery (CAS) is a non-partisan human rights organization dedicated to ending human trafficking, starting where we live. The organization’s mission is to defend the freedom of every child, woman and man by empowering the people of California to fulfill our obligation to stop human trafficking. For more information, visit http://www.californiaagainstslavery.org.

About the Safer California Foundation
The Safer California Foundation is dedicated to supporting efforts to protect Californians from all forms of criminal exploitation. Created by Chris Kelly, former Facebook Chief Privacy Officer and a Silicon Valley attorney and philanthropist, the Safer California Foundation looks forward to the day when every neighborhood in California is as safe as our most secure neighborhoods today.

Paid for by Vote Yes on 35: Stop Human Trafficking in California, a coalition of survivors, children & human rights advocates, law enforcement & community groups, sponsored by California Against Slavery and Safer California Foundation. Major funding by Chris Kelly and the Peace Officers Research Association of California.